Band of the rising sun a big test for Westwood as he prepares for Turnberry

Test of patience: Lee Westwood could encounter a host of photographers as he is drawn in the same group as Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa at Turnberry

The draw for the first two rounds of the Open Championship on Thursday and Friday has provided Lee Westwood with the supreme examination of his focus and patience.

It is not so much being in the same group as world No 1 Tiger Woods and the certainty of pulling the largest galleries of the opening two days.

A bigger problem could come from inside the ropes from the scores of
Japanese photographers and reporters who follow every step of Ryo
Ishikawa's progress. The 17-year-old is given the rock-star treatment
by his own media, as Westwood discovered at the World Match Play
Championship in Tucson earlier this year.

'There were 50 to 60 Japanese press there and he wasn't even playing,' recalled Westwood. 'It should be pretty busy here.'

He added: 'The Japanese as a race are very respectful. I am sure it
will be fine. As for playing with Tiger, I have done it often. I
remember playing with him and Greg Norman at an Open at Troon. That was
great. A lot of people are intimidated by him but sometimes it is good
to watch him and feed off how good he is.'

Rising star: Ishikawa is a golfing phenomenon in his native Japan

Westwood last fed off Woods at last year's US Open, matching him shot for shot in the final round. He began that day one behind and finished one behind. 'You know he is going to be in contention. What better way to keep an eye on him than playing with him?'